A former English teacher at a Nova Scotia school has apologized for making “uncomprehensible and inappropriate comments” about the size of his students’ nipples.
John Richey, a retired teacher in a Grade 12 English classroom at St. Joseph’s Elementary School in Strathcona, N.S., posted a video of himself making a “uncomfortably uncomfortable” comment about a pupil’s breasts on YouTube last month.
Richeys apology was shared by more than 300 people, including children at St Joseph’s, in a statement Thursday from St. John’s School.
“It was inexcusable to make these remarks.
I sincerely apologize to all my students and all the parents who have been impacted by these comments,” Richez said in his video.
“We are very sorry for any distress caused.”
St. Joe’s School principal Kevin Johnson says the school has spoken to Richeyz and has also removed the video from its website.
“While we do not condone the comments made by Mr. Ritchie, we believe they were inappropriate and we have since taken steps to address them,” he said in a written statement.
The statement also said the school is “working with the Nova Scotia Ministry of Education to address these matters.”
Richezes apology comes just weeks after a CBC News investigation into the “Harvey Weinstein scandal” revealed the former film producer and star of the Weinstein-produced movie “Trainwreck” had been accused of sexual misconduct.
Rivett’s apology comes amid a string of similar apologies from other teachers in Canada.
On Wednesday, former teacher John Rembery posted a short video apology for making uncomprehenible and inappropriately comments about his students nipples.
(CBC)In August, a CBC report detailed the experiences of more than 20 Nova Scotia teachers who alleged they were sexually harassed or assaulted by Weinstein.
A month later, CBC News reported that a former Nova Scotia teacher accused of making inappropriate comments about a student’s breasts was suspended from her teaching job.
Remberys apology comes at a time when many teachers across the country are coming forward to say they were targeted or sexually harassed in the past year.
Many of the teachers accused have been fired or resigned after the CBC story was published.
